Stiffer punishments sought for polluters<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Members of the City Council urged judges
\nyesterday to impose heavier penalties on companies found guilty
\nof violating environment laws in order to give police more reason
\nto investigate delinquent companies.<\/p>\n
Bandjar Marpaung, chairman of the City Council's Commission D
\non development, said the police are reluctant to investigate
\npollution cases due to the light sentences frequently issued by
\njudges.<\/p>\n
\"I do urge the judges handling trials of pollution cases to
\ngive heavier sentences to those proven guilty, because light
\npunishment has discouraged investigation of these cases,\" Bandjar
\nsaid after a meeting between members of the City Council, City
\nPolice officers and the City Environment Protection Office.<\/p>\n
Punishment is reportedly not commensurate with the amount of
\ntime and energy spent by police investigating polluters.<\/p>\n
He cited as an example the 1992 trial of PT Menara Jaya, a
\nbicycle wheel producing factory in Ciracas, East Jakarta, whose
\nowners were sentenced to only three months in prison and fined
\nRp 500,000 (US$227.27) for environmental damages.<\/p>\n
One of the most rampant forms of pollution is the dumping of
\nindustrial waste into rivers, which not only damages the
\nenvironment but brings disease upon those who utilize the river
\nfor their daily needs.<\/p>\n
\"Please punish them with maximum sentences in line with the
\ndegree of their infraction,\" Bandjar said.<\/p>\n
Code No. 5\/1984 on industry stipulates that companies
\npolluting the environment face a maximum fine of Rp 100 million
\nand\/or 10 years imprisonment.<\/p>\n
Bandjar also urged the court to accept results from laboratory
\ntests conducted by the City Environmental Protection Office.
\nTheir evidence, he said, will speed up the trial process because
\nthe national police laboratory takes far too long.<\/p>\n
\"The police laboratory tests samples from so many pollution
\ncases that it takes a great deal of time,\" Bandjar said.<\/p>\n
According to the City Environmental Protection Office, the
\nnumber of pollution cases in the city has increased sharply from
\nonly three in 1992 to 25 cases in 1995.<\/p>\n
Bandjar said the increase shows greater environmental
\nawareness on the part of the public.<\/p>\n
This year the city police have tested 19 samples from 25
\npollution cases involving such Jakarta-based companies as Hotel
\nPetamburan II, PT Sanyo, PT Wirantono Colt, PT Selayang Peluang,
\nPT Pop Song, PT Cemani Toka, PT Indo Jaya, PT Sumber Mas Murni,
\nPT Kalimas, PT Koremas Indonesian, PT Karpet Indonesia, PT Dwi
\nWarna Indah, PT Elektro Platin, PT Noore, PT Ponodium and PT
\nIndofermac. (yns)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/stiffer-punishments-sought-for-polluters-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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